Capturing Tiny, From Prostitution to Motherhood

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Beloved documentarian Mary Ellen Mark photographed wayward, homeless, and disenfranchised youth throughout her career. For over 30 years, she followed one woman, Tiny (given name: Erin Blackwell), as she argued with her alcoholic mother; cried and smoked a cigarette in a moment of despair; and lovingly embraced her children by the side of their bathtub. In 1983, Tiny was a 13-year-old prostitute living on the streets of Seattle; in 2014, she’s a mother of ten who has overcome a serious drug addiction.

In Tiny: Streetwise Revisited, on view now until June 30 at Aperture’s gallery, we’re given an intimate look into the evolution of one woman’s life over the course of three decades. In an essay that accompanies the exhibition catalog, Chilean author Isabel Allende describes Mark as an “angel of truth” and the “silent witness of [Tiny’s] life.” Mark captures Tiny in all her complexity, with an incredible amount of honesty and compassion that make her portfolio an indelible work of photojournalism.

The films Tiny: The Life of Erin Blackwell and Streetwise, shot by Mark’s husband and creative partner, Martin Bell, will be shown as a double feature at BAM this Saturday, June 25. Click ahead to see heartbreaking, poignant, and beautiful photographs of Tiny’s life.

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Tiny, Halloween, 1983.
Photo: Mary Ellen Mark

Tiny, 1983. “I wanna be really rich ... and live on a farm with a bunch of horses, which is my main best animal ... and have three yachts or more ... ... Tiny, 1983. “I wanna be really rich ... and live on a farm with a bunch of horses, which is my main best animal ... and have three yachts or more ... and diamonds and jewels and all that stuff.”
Photo: Mary Ellen Mark

Tiny and her mother, Pat, 1983. “We got in a fight. She was drunk that night. The next day she felt really bad.”
Photo: Mary Ellen Mark

Tiny pregnant with Daylon, 1985. “I’ve always wanted a baby because it’s like something that was mine, that I could say was mine, and I could love and... Tiny pregnant with Daylon, 1985. “I’ve always wanted a baby because it’s like something that was mine, that I could say was mine, and I could love and do things for.”
Photo: Mary Ellen Mark

Tiny and LaShawndrea, 1989.
Photo: Mary Ellen Mark

Tiny in Pike Street Market with Keanna, 1990.
Photo: Mary Ellen Mark

Tiny and Keanna lying in bed, 1990. “My mom doesn’t tell me anything about my dad. She wouldn’t because she didn’t like who he was. That’s not fair.”
... Tiny and Keanna lying in bed, 1990. “My mom doesn’t tell me anything about my dad. She wouldn’t because she didn’t like who he was. That’s not fair.”
Photo: Mary Ellen Mark

Rayshon and Tiny on the couch, 1999. “I started using drugs at the age of thirteen. That was the other reason why I had to try to support myself becau... Rayshon and Tiny on the couch, 1999. “I started using drugs at the age of thirteen. That was the other reason why I had to try to support myself because people weren’t gonna give it to you for free for too much longer either.”
Photo: Mary Ellen Mark

Tiny with Mikka smoking in bed, 1999.
Photo: Mary Ellen Mark

Tiny in the bathroom with Rayshon and E’Mari, 2003.
Photo: Mary Ellen Mark

Tiny crying and smoking, 2004. “I will always be an addict. That’s just the name tag you carry along with ya. Just like an alcoholic, I am always goin... Tiny crying and smoking, 2004. “I will always be an addict. That’s just the name tag you carry along with ya. Just like an alcoholic, I am always going to be an alcoholic.”
Photo: Mary Ellen Mark